Parala suicides probe: Three more appear before Odisha CB

Three persons appeared before the Odisha Crime Branch here today in connection with the mysterious deaths of Parala Maharaja’s former manager Anang Manjari Patra and her three siblings.

Those who appeared before the agency are BJP Gajapati district president K Rabana, Congress Parala city president Basant Panda and former BJD councillor Babuli Behera.

Notably, the Crime Branch had served notices to nine persons to appear before it in connection with the quadruple suicide case.

Paralakhemundi MLA K Surya Rao, former BJD Gajapati district president Basant Das and Manoranjan Badaghar had appeared before the Crime Branch yesterday. Similarly, Paralakhemundi Municipality councillor Bibhuti Nayak and local Congress leader Sudhi Ranjan Mahapatra had appeared before the agency on Monday.

In a related development, the Odisha High Court today extended the interim protection from arrest to MLA Rao in the case till November 9.

It may be recalled here that body of Ananga and her two other siblings– Bijaylaxmi Patra and Sanjay Patra– were recovered from her Jangam Sahi residence in Paralakhemundi on August 21.

Another brother, Santosh, was rescued from the house, where he was found lying on the floor in a critical condition. The following day, he died at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

Three suicide notes were later recovered from the residence wherein names of 11 persons were mentioned. The writers of the notes had held Rao and a particular television channel responsible for their deaths.

Rao had led a campaign demanding action against Ananga and her brother Sanjay, who worked as a personal assistant to the king, for allegedly keeping the Maharaja under house arrest and trying to sell off royal properties.